The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-06-02
CI SfSTIAN PATRIOTISM.
Memorial Day Sermon Delivered by Rev.
D. E. Platter,
OF the Presbyterian Church, sunday--AI
Able Treatise ON the Growing EvilS
Ofthe Day and the Numerous
Dangers EnGendered.

Rev. ID. k. Platter, OF Gno presbyterian
church, delivered remarkably able SER
mon on "ChristiRn Patriotism" Sunday,
which was attentively listened TO by an
audience, which packed the auditorium
Of the church. The complete text OF the
sermon ls subjolned:
TzTEi forget thee Ss5Ss1s I '' my lO'
This Is not simply an exclamation
of reIjOloua feryOr. but Of an ardent pat
rIotiam as we'll, Jerusalem stood to the
Jew for both church and State. Relig.
Ion and patriotism were most intimate
" and happily blended In the mind OF
the lsraelite. To forget Jerusalem was
to- be recreant not only to the high
,sSciaIms Of patriotism, but also to the
.. hiRher claims Of religion.
There is no more imperative duty for
Christians In America than to take
deeD and abiding interest in the welfare
Of their country. Christian patriotism
Is the very highest type Of patriotism.
Nand 80 II ought to be sedulOusly cult
waited, and exers Itself to the utmost for
(the c0untry's good, and for the sake Of
humanity and OF the church, so widely
affected by good or bad government.
The best government on earth cannot
remain such except as q pure spirit OF
patriotism is maintained amongst the
people; a pure patriotism cannot be
maintained except on basis Of pure
morality, nor q pure morality except
on basis Of pure religion; and 1t Is In
Cumbent upon, the best classes Of the
people to be keenly alive to the duties OF
citizenship. .---JRslzSs
) As nation we have two grestimemO-
rial days. The one commentaries the
birth Of the nation; the other, we might
not unftly say, commentaries the sec-
Ond birth or regeneration Of the nation.
II belongs to the nature Of thingS that
; the one Of these memorial days that
stands the nearest to u.s.. which speaks
TO us Of a great national crisis through
which this present generation passed,
and In which 1t suffered, should take
the deepest hold upon us, and be more
generally observed. Memorial Sabbath
and Decoration day touch living men in
o most tender and appealing way.
The observation OF such memorial
+, days is q common feature In the lives Of
nations. The only way Of transmitting
o lofty and heroic spirit to succeeding
generations Is BY frequent reminders,
to lead them to cherish q high regard
for the heroic actions and the lofty spir-
It's Of their heroic past. The only way
Of impressing upon generation that
inherits great blessings which cost them
nothing, the value Of those blessings, is
to remind them 20 frequently that they
cannot forget 1t, what those blessings
cost.
To-day, all over this land, memories
will be recalled which will stir the
hearts Of the people. To morrow o
grateful people, In accordance with q
custom as appropriate as IL l9 beautiful,
will 20 to che thousands of cemeteries
where sleep those who fell In defence Of
th3 nations life, and strew their graves
with flowers, thus keeping alive with
fervent gratitude their memories and
extOlling their heroic spirit; thus con-
Tossing the debt we owe them, and
which no hOn0rs we can frame to their
mem ries can fully pay.
The meaning which underlieS this
national memorial Is that there were
certain things which 10 tie people Of
this country were 30 dear, 81 precious,
so sacred, shat life was willingly laid
In the balance and prOdigaliy sacrificed
to save them; and that to-day the geDar
alton that is upon the stage would re
new their deV0ti q to those precious
things, and seek to lnculcate into the
minds Of the generation that Is rising
/, up kindred devotion, so that If the
need should arise, they too will not
count their lives too dear price with
which to preserve them to the future.
purpose to speak to you this morning
on the
DUTIES OF TIE CHRISTIAN CITIZEN.
l, The first characteristic of the
christian citizen Is that he has an exalt
ed idea of the duties and obi atlons Of
/, citizenship.
The men WHOSE memories and brave
deeds are revived by the observance of
this nati0 al memorial, were not SOL
diers by profession. They were citizens,
and became soldiers simply because the
duties of citizenship required 1t of them.
The great army that stood like wall of
fire between the nations enemies and
the nations life, during those fOul terri
BILE years, was an army OF citizens, who
were inepired with the conviction that
the privileges of citizenship In this
great Republic, Involved duties to It,
which were commensurate In impOr-
tance with life Itself; and so, when the
occasion demanded 1t, they left with
swift loyalty the peaceful occupations
OF life, and turned their hands to the
Euder, but necessary occupation Of war.
Those four years Of bitter and relent-
less strife, involved the heroic element
In the duties of citizenship. But "psace
hath her Victories as well as war;" and
faithfully to do the commonplace duties
Of Citiz ,nship, requires patriotism Of
as pure q stamp, 90 that which In q
crisis hour, develops into heroic action.
We are learning that q time Of peace,
NAV also be @ time OF national peril;
that nations life may be imperiled In
other ways than by the sudden and rude
shock Of war; that patriotism may be
displaced by selfishness; that great pros
peFlty may bro corruption; that lux
Flry may generate vice; that widespread
immortality may undermine social order;
we are learning, what history has
warned us Of, by many illustrations,
that nation is In as much danger Of
dying by suicide, as by the hands Of its
enemies.
The points Of peril In our country now
are the cities, In which great pOpula-
tIons are accommodating, and In which
The baser elements are getting the up.
Derhand. The duties that are connected
with politics are In themselves dlstaste-
mi to the average citize5. A national
election, that appeals to his party pride
and prejudices, and RwRkens national
interest. will rouse him out Of his alb
a0rption In his own private pursuits, and
lead him for time TO give bis attention
and time to politics; but local election
has little interest for him. There is
strong tendency, on the part Of the
batter class to neglect local politics; not
ns,I,, 81 NaoIIna nnhIiC nfIlea khamaalvaa